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It is even more important to brush your teeth after meals when wearing braces than it was before you had them. Braces offer more places for food particles to get caught and plaque to form which causes tooth decay. At Orthodontic Specialists of Oklahoma in Shawnee, Oklahoma (OK) want you to protect your beautiful smile by maintaining proper oral hygiene while you wear braces. Here are some tips to keep your braces and teeth clean.
BRUSH AFTER MEALS AND SNACKS
Brush your teeth after every meal and snack to keep teeth as clean as possible and eliminate plaque. It is also important to floss your teeth at least once each day to protect your gums. The best time to floss is right before bed. When brushing, use a soft bristle brush for two full minutes. Replace your toothbrush every three months because your brackets and wires may cause your brush to wear down faster. Brush all sides of your teeth, the roof of your mouth and tongue to ensure that you get all food particles left after eating. A toothbrush with a rounded end works well with braces to get those hard-to-reach places. Once you have brushed, use a mouth rinse or mouthwash to ensure that you haven’t missed anything.
FLOSS-THREADER
Flossing is a bit harder with braces, but you can use a floss-threader to help you get in and around the wires. Ask your Shawnee, OK, orthodontist to demonstrate how to use a floss-threader. As you floss, it is important to get between teeth all the way down to your gums.
GOOD ORAL HYGIENE IS CRUCIAL
The reason you have decided to get braces for your orthodontics treatment is because you want to improve your smile and your oral health. Poor oral hygiene when you have braces will have a negative impact on oral health and deteriorate the all the work you are doing with your braces. Poor oral hygiene can cause cavities on the fronts of your teeth, ugly white spots, gingivitis or other oral health issues. The plaque build-up can even slow down the movement of your teeth.
SEE YOUR DENTIST REGULARLY
You should still visit your dentist a minimum of every six months for routine cleanings while you wear braces or are going through your orthodontics treatment. Due to the difficulty of maintaining great hygiene with braces, your Shawnee orthodontist, our orthodontists recommend getting a professional cleaning every four to six months. Your dentist can check to make sure you are maintaining your brushing and flossing properly and give you tips if you are missing any spots. Call Orthodontic Specialists of Oklahoma in Shawnee, OK, with any questions about brushing and flossing.
At Orthodontic Specialists of Oklahoma of Shawnee, OK, our 5-star-rated orthodontists take great pride in providing you with the best orthodontic treatment options by having the most advanced technology available, including retainers after treatment. We provide so many options including, metal braces, clear braces, self-ligating braces, Invisalign, Empower braces, early orthodontic treatment, and more. Accelerate your orthodontic treatment by up to 50% with SureSmile.
Orthodontic Specialists of Oklahoma understands the importance of making braces affordable. That is why we offer affordable financial plans for braces with no hidden fees and family discounts!
When you are ready, click here to schedule your O.S.O. Smile Analysis which includes a comprehensive exam, x-rays, and more at no cost to you!*
Call 405.364.4608 today!
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